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Hi, not an answer to your questions Im afraid... but how do you know that they have mites? Just interested to know if it is really obvious or you have to regularly be picking up your chickens and having a good look under their feathers. Thanks

We've used dusting powder for caged birds bought at a local pet store. The free-er the chickens range the less of a problem mites seem to be. After dusting the mites you have to give their house a really thorough clean to kill off mites living in there. Books I have read recommend a nasty toxic chemical wash, I've used fly spray (has to be with pyrethrum) and the same dust I used on the hens, after a hot soapy scrub and lots of sun to dry.

Following a dusting a few years ago I started getting bitten at night and after extensive research decided that I had bed bugs! They appear to be the same or similar to red mites that the hens had. They only come out at night and so you wake up with nasty itchy bites but never see the little blighters. (No-see-ems.) The only thing that god rid of them was fly spray with pyrethrum.

Hi, not an answer to your questions Im afraid... but how do you know that they have mites? Just interested to know if it is really obvious or you have to regularly be picking up your chickens and having a good look under their feathers. Thanks

Hi Steve, have had chickens for years and never had this problem before. Bought some Inca insect animal dust and covered the chickens in it. Also scrubbed out their house and perches. They are all back in lay so must be happy.
Cheers Di